Bell chime operating mechanism



April 1963 H. D. LANDON 3,084,588

BELL CHIME OPERATING MECHANISM Filed May 18, 1961 Hal D. Landan.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,084,588 Patented Apr. 9, 1963 3,084,588 BELL CHE IE OPERATING MECHANISM Hall). Landon, Box 101, Brownsville, Greg. Filed May 18, 1961, Ser. No. 111,064 3 Claims. (Cl. 84-407) This invention relates generally to chime mechanisms, and specifically to novel means of initiating electrical actuation of bell chimes.

The shape of a bell is very popular as a decorative means over the Christmas season, and such bells are conventionally formed of plastic or paper and are generally inoperative from the standpoint of sound. It is my intention to provide an invention wherein the frames of such bells may be utilized to incorporate a chime mechanism which is operated by movement of the clapper due to wind or forced draft.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a novel means of electrical chime operation wherein the chime is operative in response to clapper movement.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a chime operating mechanism which may be incorporated within decorative simulated bell forms to provide novelty and sound in otherwise silent and stationary street and shop type decorations.

In one embodiment of the invention, the clapper is made to pivot and contains a suitable vane shape at the lower end which is caused to swing in response to wind movement. The upper end of the clapper actuates spring mounted electrical contacts which cause electrical impulses upon closing to operate different bell notes. According to another embodiment of the invention, the clapper is mounted so that it may revolve about a vertical axis. Radially projecting arms disposed on the upper end of the clapper actuate electrical chime contacts. The clapper is caused to rotate in response to drafts.

A full understanding of the details of the invention, together with further advantages, will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional side elevation view disclosing one embodiment of my invention wherein the electrical chime contacts are actuated by a pendulum motion of the clapper.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional side view showing the embodiment of FIG. 1, and taken along the line 2 2.

P16. 3 is a fragmentary side view shown partly in cross section and indicating a second embodiment of the invention, actuating the electrical chime contacts in response to rotational movement of the clapper.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several 'views in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 5 represents the contoured shape of a conventional bell housing. The shape turns outwardly at its lower end to terminate with an open circular rim 6. The upper end 7 of the bell mounts an upstanding eye 8 for supporting the same in any desired location. The upper end 7 is closed by a circular partition 9 which extends horizontally between the circular wall of the housing.

In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, two arms 10 are secured to the underside of the partition 9 and extend downwardly and towards each other terminating with spaced bushings 11 axially aligned with each other and disposed centrally of the bell housing. A hearing pin 12 extends horizontally through the bushings and pivotally mounts an upper portion of a clapper pendulum 13. The pendulum pivots about a point 14 and has an upper end 18 which extends beyond the point 14 and terminates freely beneath the partition 9. The lower end 15 of the pendulum extends slightly beneath the rim 6 of the bell housing and mounts a clapper 16 formed of two bisected and normally related discs 17. :The discs are made of light material and are adapted to cause the pendulum to swing in response to wind or an artificial draft. The upper end 18 reciprocates in an arcuate manner in response to pendulum movement and is adapted to alternately actuate two pivotally mounted terminal arms 19 which extend downwards through slots 20 formed in the partition for interference by the pendulum end. The terminal arms 19 are pivoted at 21 above the partition and terminate with inwardly facing contacts 22. The contacts are caused to move into engagement with fixed terminals 23 and 24 and close individual circuits for operating different notes of a chime. The contacts 22 are urged into a normally spaced or open circuit with respect to the terminals by small tension springs 25. The electrical circuit and note amplification has not been shown in detail, since it does not form part of the inventive subject matter. A speaker 26 and suitable amplifying equipment 27 is shown in the upper portion of the bell housing.

The second embodiment of my invention is disclosed in FIG. 3, and involves a bracket arm 28 secured at each end to the underside of the partition 9. The centre of the bracket is formed with a bushing 29 which is disposed centrally of the partition, and rotatably mounts a clapper shaft 30 such that the shaft extends vertically downwards to terminate with a clapper 31 similar to the clapper already described. The shaft 30 extends through the bushing 29 and terminates with radially extending arms 32 adapted to rotate with the shaft in a horizontal plane. The ends of the arms are adapted to trip pivotally mounted terminal arms 33 and 34 which respectively actuate bell circuits in a similar manner to that described above.

It will be clear that these simple mechanisms may be easily installed in presently formed imitation bell decorations, and will result in a realistic bell chime in response to the movement of the clapper.

Having described the invention in a preferred form, it will be appreciated that some modifications may be made to the precise configuration, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

I claim? 1. A bell chime operating mechanism for installation in a decorative bell housing, comprising, a partition extending horizontally across an upper portion of the housing, bracket arms secured to the underside of the partition and extending downwardly towards each other terminating with a bearing disposed centrally of the housing, a clapper pendulum mounted in said bearing for movement with respect thereto and having an upper end disposed above the bearing for alternately actuating electrical contact means for initiating bell notes, and a clapper on the lower end of the pendulum.

,2. A bell chime operating mechanism for installation in a decorative bell housing according to claim 1 wherein said clapper comprises two bisected and normally related discs adapted to move in response to wind force and wherein said bearing comprises horizontally aligned bushings to support the pendulum in a pivotal manner intermediate its ends.

3. A bell chime operating mechanism for installation in a decorative bell housing, comprising, a partition extending horizontally across an upper portion of the housing, bracket arms secured at one end to the underside of the partition, a bushing supported by the arms centrally and vertically of the housing, a clapper shaft 3 mounted in the bushing for rotation with respect thereto, said shaft extending above said bushing and terminating with radially extending arms, said arms adapted to actuate electrical contacts pivotally extending through the partition, said contacts adapted to initiate electrically produced bell notes in response to rotational movement of the shaft, a clapper disposed on the lower end of the shaft having vanes for imparting rotation thereto in response to a draft.

References fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Petelinsek d. Feb. 5, Hubbell Nov. 30, Balduman Dec. 17, Chuy Jan. 26, 

1. A BELL CHIME OPERATING MECHANISM FOR INSTALLATION IN A DECORATIVE BELL HOUSING, COMPRISING, A PARTITION EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY ACROSS AN UPPER PORTION OF THE HOUSING, BRACKET ARMS SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE PARTITION AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY TOWARDS EACH OTHER TERMINATING WITH A BEARING DISPOSED CENTRALLY OF THE HOUSING, A CLAPPER PENDULUM MOUNTED IN SAID BEARING FOR MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO AND HAVING AN UPPER END DISPOSED ABOVE THE BEARING FOR ALTERNATELY ACTUATING ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEANS FOR INITIATING BELL NOTES, AND A CLAPPER ON THE LOWER END OF THE PENDULUM. 